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Propagation stand (Light bulbs)

From: "Mike Slater, Mohnton PA Zone 6 Del Val NARGS"
<EriogonumZ@AOL.COM>


In a message dated 97-01-22 18:24:47 EST, you write:

<< All the USDA field tests and most of the literature I read reflect
the
 position using special growing bulbs, going under many labels such as
"Grow
 Light" ect. ect. do not give any superior light results than ordinary
"shop
 lights". Should I take what I read to mean for seed propagation only?
Do
 folks justify more expensive lights for full grown plant stands
ect.ect.
 ???? Someday my sedum collection is going to need winter lighting. Will
 shop lights only indoors not be adequate?

 Opinions?? >>
I have done a lot of forcing of plants into bloom using only fluorescent
lights.  Every year I bring in plants about now and put them under the
llights in the basement to get flowers and good growth on rock garden
plants
for the Philadelphia Flower Show. The plants are used in the exhibit
that the
Delaware Valley Chapter of NARGS put on there every year and also for my
personal entries in the individual classes at the show.  I use 4 foot
fluorescent shop light fixture that hole either 2 or 4 bulbs.  I started
out
using the 1warm white and 1 cool white bulb per fixture and that seemd
to
work OK.  I wanted to get something a little better. I wanted to use
Grow-Lights, but I could't afford to (really I was to cheap) to pay as
much
as they cost for the 30 or so bulbs I needed.  So I when to a commercial
electrical and lighting dealer and went through the GE catalog with
them.  I
settled on the GE SP35 bulbs to try.  They are a mid spectrum bulb
(Halfway
between warm white and cool white ) and they are designed to give a
natural
color light in stores, art museums, etc.. (The SP35X is the more
expensive
long life version)  At the time they were less than half the price of
grow
lights and they were available in 3 different wattages: 34 (the
Minimizer),
40 (normal), and 44 (The Maximizer).  I wanted light output, so I bought
the
GE SP35 Maximiser and they have been great, I last paid about $4.50 a
piece
when I stocked up 2 years ago.  I have not been able to get the
Maximisers
for several years now. GE  apparently stopped making them due to
mandatory
government energy saving rules.  I now use the 40 Watt SP35 bulbs in
most of
my fixtures.  I tried 2 of the Power Twist plant bulbs that I purchased
at an
aquarium supply warehouse last year for a good price of $7.00 and the
plants
do grow well under the pair I have but very little flowering occured.
they
are definately grow lights not flowering lights.

I would love to be able to justify replacing all my fixtures with the
HID
(high intensity discharge) fixtures and bulbs Kay talks about so I could
have
more space above my plants to work. Maybe someday.

Mike Slater, Southeastern PA, z6 (having a thaw), DVC of NARGS
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